Agenda - 04-29-2004-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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The related comments were that there are two communities in Orange County, and that northern county still has more acute water/sewer and unemploytnent issues.. Sectioa 2: Possible Strategies for Econoric Deve[opnrent in Orange Corenry Over tl~e Next Five Years At the same time they voted on the criteria for,judging economic development strategies, the breakout groups were asked to react to and prioritize an initial list of 20 strategies that retreat organizers culled from prior and recent plans and the fall poll. These are listed in Table 1, Table 1: Initial List of Economic Develo ment Strate ies for Consideration 1. Establish clear and criteria-based approval processes for local planning departments to use in considering develo ment and renovation rojects. 2. Welcome new and assist existing businesses that meet the county's development criteria -with outreach, reco ninon, and/or ex edited service. 3. Target the local loan pool (and other incentives?) to support the development of businesses that meet the coon 's develo ment criteria. 4 Partner actively with UNC and the NC Biotech Center to start, grow and recruit science and technology companies, especially related to life sciences and medical technology, to Carolina North and elsewhere in the coon . 5 Develop Carolina North as Orange County's centerpiece for innovation-based job creation, amactive architecture, enviro~unental conservation, and trans ortation, and link it to economic activity coon wide. 6. Tar et and su ort creative and rofessional services firms for the downtowns. 7. Work with local farmers on agricultural biotechnology applications, duough partnerships with UNC, N C. State Universi ,and the North Carolina Biotechnolo y Center. 8. Establish apublic-private-university partnership for economic development, with governance and funding from local government, business, and the university - to set, implement and be accountable for economic development strategy countywide - to replace or complement the current public Economic Development Commission. Exam les: Rockin ham & Burke Counties 9, Create more entertainment, arts and theater destinations in the towns, including galleries, studios, and edestrian districts. 10. Develo better infrastructure for tourism, conferences, s orts tournaments, incl. conference & meetin s ace 11. Build more arkin in the towns to su ort em to ers and merchants' customers. 12. Establish business- and university-driven teams to market the Economic Development Districts to clean industries within the Research Trian le Re Tonal Partnershi 's tar eted technolo y sectors. 13, Develop a comprehensive retail strategy and associated land use for the county; for example, to include specific large retailers in available shopping centers and numerous niche and boutique smaller retailers in the downtowns. 14, Work regionally with Durham, Raleigh and the Triangle Transit Authority to improve "alternative trans ortation" infrastructure, includin bus, transit and bic cle access, to and from Oran e Coun towns. 15 Increase density around transportation nodes (including infill development), improve transit among high- densi centers, and rotect o ens ace in rural areas. 16. Ex lore additional water su I sources and a reements. 17. Reduce the re ulatory barriers to moderate- riced housin > develo meet. I8. Use the upcoming location of a Durham Tech campus in the county as the focal point for creating a model of effective spate is collaboration of workforce develo ment and economic develo ment Tannin . 19 Institute a more minority and immigrant-friendly policy, including help with starting ethnically diverse and/or international) -related businesses. 20. Establish an open and facilitated process for developing creative solutions and negotiating agreements among business, environmental and social justice rou s. 4